For Immediate Release
September 29, 2008

Personal tour of Getty Villa offered by UCR Extension

Discover the majesty and mystery of the Getty Villa, America's only museum of Greek and Roman antiquities, during a personalized tour conducted by a leading art historian.

The small-group tour, hosted by UCR Extension, should capture the imagination of anyone interested in the arts and cultures of ancient civilizations.

The recently renovated Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades was built by J. Paul Getty in 1974. More than 1,200 artifacts are on display, arranged by themes including: Gods and Goddesses; Dionysus and the Theater, and Stories of the Trojan War.

An evening lecture by Dr. Irini Vallera-Rickerson, a professor of art history at Orange Coast Community College, will introduce students to Getty's inspiration, the Villa Dei Papiri in Herculaeum, Italy, and preview the collection.

Then, Dr. Vallera-Rickerson will personally guide the group on a day-long tour, where she will more closely examine the architectural renovation and highlight the collection's most important pieces, including a bronze statue of a young Greek athlete from the 4th Century B.C.

"We'll also see great examples of red and black figure vases," she said.

Dr. Vallera-Rickerson said the combined lecture and tour will provide a unique opportunity to compare some of the original pieces from the Villa Dei Papiri with those in the reconstructed Getty Villa.

"If you don't have any idea about these pieces, you don't have the same appreciation," she said.

Dr. Vallera-Rickerson was born in Athens, Greece, and earned her doctorate in architecture from the University of Florence, Italy.

She has received numerous awards and honors, including Faculty of the Year in 1993, Community College Faculty of the Year in 1994-95, and Supportive Instructor in 2001.

Dr. Vallera-Rickerson writes for Archeology Magazine in Athens. A book she co-authored on ancient Greek women athletes was well received.

She is a frequent lecturer at museums, universities and various design centers throughout Southern California. And, every year she leads a small group tour to Italy or Greece, emphasizing the arts and architecture.

The Getty Villa class and tour includes an evening lecture from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, and the tour from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11.

Fee for the class and tour is $305 for one person or $500 for two people. The fee includes parking, a box lunch and transportation to and from the Getty Villa.

The one-unit class satisfies an elective for the Certificate in Interior Design.

Friday's class will meet at the UCR Extension Center, 1200 University Ave., Riverside.

On-line registration is available at www.extension.ucr.edu or by phone at 951-827-4105 or 800-442-4990. Those taking advantage of the discount for two people will need to register by phone. Be sure to mention the registration number: 082-AHI-I06.

UCR Extension is a self-supporting branch of the University of California, Riverside.